Bob Asmussen: Welcome back to another chat. Thanks again for all of your questions. Let's get to it.

Tom, Anderson, IN: Will Memorial Stadium be complete in time for the first home game?

Bob Asmussen: Tom,

Based on the fact that there isn't 24-hour work being done at Memorial Stadium, I'm guessing the job will be completed a couple of weeks before the opener. And that's a good thing, allowing for school officials to figure out any problems that exist and finding solutions for those problems.

N-G staffer Jeff Huth took a recent tour of the construction site. I can't wait to get in there. It's going to be so different than from the past that from my perspective it will be like going into a completely new building. I'm sure in a short time I won't even remember what the old press box looked like. Although, it was completely functional and the few minor problems (too hot in September, too cold in November) were easy enough to deal with. Happily, Illinois isn't separating the home and visiting media like they are doing at some renovated buildings in the Big Ten (Ohio State for one). That's very annoying.

Art, Mahomet, IL: Paul,

1. I've heard some rumors concerning several good players interested in walking on at Illinois. How many kids do you think Coach Weber would keep in addition to the scholarship players?

2. You know SIU and the Illini better than anyone, having recently covered both--any chance of a regular season meeting between the two?

Paul Klee: Art- Good to see you at the team camp Sunday. Thanks for the question.

Judging from last season, when Weber entered the season with, I believe, 16 players on the roster, I don't think he would put a limit on the number of walk-ons, as long as he sees them as "team guys." Part of the reconstruction of Illinois basketball is getting players who want to accept their roles. Provided a walk-on knows where he stands in relation to the playing rotation and otherwise -- and he's a decent player -- I think he would be welcomed. They had four walk-ons last season -- one of them was the team's second-leading scorer (Trent Meacham) and one of them had a considerable role in two critical overtimes (Jeff Jordan). That's rare.

As I wrote a few weeks ago, it should be noted that C.J. Jackson would not be a walk-on. Illinois basketball has a scholarship available, and Bruce Weber told me he would get it -- if C.J. joins the basketball side.

As for Illinois and SIU -- they will not be playing a regular season series any time soon, at least under the current circumstances. There's a simple reason for this. Bruce Weber does not want to coach against Chris Lowery, and Chris Lowery doesn't want to coach against Bruce Weber. It's a mutual sentiment. SIU people will tell you it's a matter of Illinois not wanting to play SIU. That's true, but it's equally true the other way around. The coaches view it as too much to lose, and too little to gain.

Minutes after the 2007 NCAA tournament bracket was revealed, and Illinois and SIU were positioned to meet in the second round, I spoke to both coaches. Neither was particularly enthused at the possibility of a second-round matchup, because it meant one of them was going home. That gives you an idea of why it's not going to happen - at least for as long as Chris Lowery is the head coach at SIU and Bruce Weber is the head coach at Illinois. After that, yes, I do think there will be a series. Bruce Weber has too many friends in Southern Illinois, and he knows that would be a popular series in those parts.

Hope that helps.

Steve Zielke, chicago, il: Bob,

Which redshirt freshmen do you think will have the biggest impact on the team this year? I know you focus on football but were you able to see any of the basketball games this weekend in Champaign...if so what is your opinion of Bertrand & 2010 recruit L. Smith. thanks

Paul Klee: I'll go first with the recruits. Joseph Bertrand had the finest single game of a player at the Illinois team camp on Sunday. His nearly 30-point game against Brandon Paul at the Assembly Hall, added to a 28-point game against D.J. Richardson at the Shootout at the Hall last December, means he's totaled about 55 points in two games at the Assembly Hall. One thing about Joseph Bertrand - he struggles against zone defenses. That much was evident in the two games that preceded his breakout game against Brandon Paul. His coach with Illinois Wolves, Mike Mullins, told me after the team camp that has been true on the AAU circuit as well.

We had another full page of team camp coverage in Monday's News-Gazette. After their matchup, Joseph Bertrand talked about playing against Brandon Paul for the first time.

"Hopefully we can do the same thing when we get here," Bertrand said. "It's real exciting to know that we're all going to be down here and playing for Illinois and trying to make it to the Final Four like the other three did."

Brandon Paul said of Bertrand: "It's really the first time I've seen him play. He really impressed me with the way he drove to the basket. He's also a really good shooter. It's going to be fun playing with him."

Lenzelle Smith - I love his game. He goes non-stop for 40 minutes. People often ask of Lenzelle Smith 'But what position does he play?' or 'Where does he fit?' but I'm not sure it matters. Given his near-perfect academics record, it's easy to see why programs from Georgetown to Purdue are recruiting him as well. I thought he was the 2nd-best player -- behind Brandon Paul -- at the team camp on Sunday.

Brandon Paul was playing with a jammed index finger on his shooting (right) hand. He sustained the injury on Saturday and it clearly slowed him in his first game Sunday.

Hope that helps. Go ahead Bob.

Bob Asmussen: Steve,

Start on the offensive line, where Jack Cornell is going to get a shot at playing time. So will Craig Wilson and Mark Jackson.

On defense, D'Angelo McCray will be able to work his way into the line rotation if he can stay healthy. He wouldn't have redshirted last year if not for a bad leg. Ian Thomas will be expected to contribute at linebacker and Darius Purcell made a move at fullback after being shifted from the secondary in the spring.

No redshirt freshman will have a greater impact than Troy Pollard. Yes, he did play, but is getting a redshirt because he missed so much time because of injury. If he is completely healed, and it looks like that's a certainty, he will fight Daniel Dufrene for carries.

Sam, Goreville, Illinois: Bob,

Do you know if the endzones with the new turf will look like the old one? Where is the old flag pole from the north end area? Any updates about the South Endzone area?

Paul,

With everything pointing to a renovation of the Assembly Hall, will the exterior be updated as well? How about renaming the place the Lou Henson Center?

Thanks

Bob Asmussen: Sam,

I just checked with Illinois and no decisions have been made about the end zones. That will come later in the summer when the different options are presented. You might see orange end zones again, or you might see Illinois in orange with a blue outline. With computer graphics available these days, Illinois officials will be able to get a good sense of what they like the best. I'm guessing Ron Zook will have a say in the look of the end zones.

The flagpoles are gone, as you point out. I'm not sure what happened to them.

The south end will need to be redone at some point for structural reasons. If the Assembly Hall is redone, it makes sense to tie the arena project to the south end of the stadium. It would make sense to have an Illini store and a Hall of Fame in the new south facility.

Now, off to Paul.

Paul Klee: Good question. I don't see how you could alter the exterior - at least not dramatically. My guess is, someone's going to have to donate a significant amount of money to have the renovated Assembly Hall named after them.

Now, I think you could name the court after coach Henson (Lou Henson Court?). We like that idea. After he braved the extreme temperatures inside the Assembly Hall at the team camp Sunday, maybe they should name the court after him regardless. He took a particular liking to one of Illinois' recruits. That was in Monday's News-Gazette.

Hope that helps, thanks again.

Mike Neal, Charleston, Illinois: Hey Guys:

I don't profess to be a player evaluater but after watching Paul Bunch in the State tournament I was impressed with his size and play. I don't read much about him anywhere else, what the heck am I missing??

Mike Neal

Paul Klee: Mike- I don't think you're missing anything. He's promising. And yes, Illinois is recruiting Paul Bunch. North Lawndale is one of the teams scheduled to compete in the Moody satellite camp on Friday and Saturday.

Jeff, Darien, IL: Hi Paul, What do you think are the likely sanctions that IU will face following Friday's hearing? Is there anyway they get away with no further punishment? Thanks for your time and keep up the good work.

Paul Klee: Hi Jeff. It doesn't look like there will be any sanctions handed down immediately after Friday's hearing. I would guess it's going to take a while for a ruling, maybe a month or two. One man's guess: it will be viewed that Indiana has taken enough steps (dismissing players, removing the coach) to curb significant penalties from the NCAA. So yes, I think there is a way. The state of Indiana basketball is going to be one of the great national storylines during the 2008-09 season. I do think Tom Crean will turn it around - he's very good at what he does. By that, I mean he's a very aggressive recruiter who's going to get players. But the current state of the program indicates it's going to take a while. And that state will be revealed early in the season when Indiana competes in the Maui Invitational. There's a superb field headed to Maui, including three teams that will be in our preseason Top 10 for the AP ballot (Carolina, Texas and Notre Dame).

Hope that helps.

Todd, Griggsville, IL: How do you see the minutes being dispersed among the big guys? What should be expect scoring-wise from the bigs?

Thanks for the info guys!

Paul Klee: Good question. Last season you had a pair of frontcourt players -- Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt -- who averaged more than 25 mpg. I don't see a 25-mpg guy on the current Illinois roster for two reasons. One, conditioning. These guys aren't used to playing that many minutes. Two, they're unproven. Some of the playing-time dilemma will hinge on Dominique Keller and how he performs and adapts. And I think Bill Cole is a wild card. He was being discussed as a possible starter or sixth man heading into last season, which was derailed by a knee injury. But the jury certainly is still out on their frontcourt. The numbers are there, the experience is not.

As for the scoring, that's probably not going to be a prerequisite for earning minutes in the frontcourt. There are enough scorers in the backcourt to carry the load. (And frankly, those guys really, really like to shoot.) The big men will be called on to rebound, set screens and defend. I think we'll have a better handle on the frontcourt and what can be expected as the summer goes on.

Mike Tisdale, Billy Cole, Richard Semrau, Mike Davis and Dominique Keller were all on hand at the team camp on Sunday.

Thanks for the question.

Paul Klee: Quick note, since no one has asked....

Shaun Pruitt's agent, Mike Naiditch, said this morning that Pruitt's private workout with the Sonics included drills against Georgetown's Roy Hibbert. Naiditch said Pruitt's next scheduled workout is with the Pacers.

Paul Klee: If you read Monday's News-Gazette, you'll see that Crandall Head told us he's considering playing with a team at the Moody satellite camp on Friday and Saturday.

And big brother Luther is over at the Illinois basketball offices today.

Paul Klee: Surprised no one has asked which teams are scheduled to attend the Moody camp this weekend. We'll have that in Thursday's News-Gazette.

It's still over a year from Illinois recruit Tyler Griffey's debut in the Braggin' Rights game, but the St. Louis-area standout made an interesting point Sunday at the team camp. More from Griffey was in Monday's News-Gazette.

"About 50 percent of my high school goes to Mizzou," he said. "They've told me, 'I'll root for Illinois at the Braggin' Rights Game if you get me a jersey or a ticket or something.'"

Paul Klee: Gotta run, but thank you again for the questions. See you at the Moody camp on Friday and Saturday - we'll be there both days. Talk to you then.